Chapter 17: Heâs a Boy, He Just Ate Too Much
These past few days, Yu Deng had been eating and sleeping, then waking up to play. His days were becoming a bit of a blur, and he had almost forgotten that he needed to check his results.
Fortunately, the original owner had actually taken the exam. If it had been up to him, he could only have “roasted an egg” (scored a zero).
If he scored a hundred points and still insisted on Zhou Yuejun paying for his university education, even Yu Deng wouldn’t have the face for it.
But since the subject of grades had been brought up, Yu Deng couldn’t help but start planning.
However, he wasn’t that stupid. Asking Zhou Yuejun for money directly was too calculated. He was roundabout, hinting with his shimmering amber eyesâthree parts pitiable and seven parts pleading.
“Yuejun-ge~”
The soft, melodic sound was like a swaying swing, rising and falling with emotion.
Because his appearance was so innocent, it was alluring, yet he was also a bit “clumsy,” making his hidden motives easily apparent.
And yet, his smile was intoxicating.
“Once the results are out, I have to fill in my preferences. When the admission notice comes, I’ll know how much the tuition is.”
“I’ll go back then and beg my father again. I’ll just treat it as himâ”
“No need!”
Zhou Yuejunâs expression darkened, his face full of displeasure and ferocity.
This time, there was finally a definitive answer: “No need for him to give it. I’ll give it, and you don’t have to pay me back!”
The money heâd brought for the appliances was almost gone, but there was still two hundred yuan in his bankbook that heâd kept for emergencies.
Heâd be paid at the end of the month, and school usually started in mid-September. With more than two monthsânot counting his salary from the nightclubâit would be just about enough.
His attitude was so resolute, his gaze so determined. His resonant voice was like a bell or a drum, striking against Yu Dengâs heart.
It would be a lie to say Yu Deng wasn’t touched or pleased.
However, in the next second, Zhou Yuejunâs words made Yu Deng flush.
“Now that we’ve bought the appliances, we are… one family.”
Before he paused, Yu Deng had held his breath, fearing Zhou Yuejun would say they were “husband and wife” or some such thing.
Society wasn’t that open yet. If people nearby heard, it would be hard for them not to look at them with strange eyes.
They might even think they were possessed and want to beat them with sticks.
Fortunately, Zhou Yuejun wasn’t that indiscreet.
But Yu Dengâs face still burned red. He pursed his plump lips, awkwardly avoiding the man’s gaze.
It was right at the peak of lunch hour, so service was slow. However, Yu Deng had been eating as he wandered, so he wasn’t very hungry.
He flipped the receipt over and over, estimating that what Zhou Yuejun had just ordered cost about seven or eight days of the man’s wages.
Moreover, he looked around and noticed that the portions were smallâthe drinks were in small cups, and the burgers were only as big as his palm.
His heart ached for the money.
Yu Deng took a sip of the iced cola. His tongue felt both cold and stinging, causing him to flinch and let out a hiss.
“The cola is stinging my mouth.”
“But it’s very comfortable. It tastes very good.”
Zhou Yuejun was amused by Yu Dengâs description: “Where did it sting you? Are you injured?”
Yu Deng was playful at times. He stuck out his tongue, not to show Zhou Yuejun, but to make a face at him.
Zhou Yuejun had ordered quite a lot. Yu Deng couldn’t finish it by himself, while Zhou Yuejun only drank a sip of cola and ate a few fries.
“You eat! I can’t finish it all.”
“I’ll eat after you’re finished.”
Zhou Yuejun didn’t compete with Yu Deng for food. He always waited until Yu Deng truly couldn’t eat anymore before cleaning up the remains.
Yu Deng took another bite of the burger. His mouth was small, and even though he tried hard to take a big bite, it looked clumsy, heartbreaking, and adorable.
With his mouth full, he placed the mostly-finished burger in front of Zhou Yuejun.
“Why do you always have to wait until I’m finished? If you do this, others will think I’m selfish.”
“They’ll think I’m mistreating you, making you eat my leftovers like I’m raising a pig or a dog and don’t see you as a person.”
“You’re putting me in an unjust position! Hmph!”
His mouth was stuffed, yet he was still “ji-li-gua-la-ing,” chewing twice for every word he spoke. His speech was indistinct, and Zhou Yuejun could only catch the gist of it.
However, he heard the part about “pig or dog” clearly.
Willing. He was willing to eat Yu Dengâs leftovers and wasn’t afraid of others calling him a pig or a dog.
“No such thing. Hurry and eat. Do you want another drink?”
Yu Deng felt a bit choked. After taking a sip of cola, he shook his head and swallowed.
“No more. I’ve had water, and milk tea, and now this. I’ve had too much; there’s water splashing in my stomach.”
As he said this, Zhou Yuejun really couldn’t resist using his hand to feel Yu Dengâs belly.
It had indeed swelled a bit.
As soon as the people at the next table left, new customers arrivedâa mother with her child.
Seeing Zhou Yuejun feeling Yu Dengâs belly with such care and a gaze full of treasure, it was hard not to overthink.
“Little brother, don’t blame me for speaking out of turn, but I have to say, if you’re pregnant, you should really eat less of this fried food.”
Immediately, Yu Deng, who was swinging his legs and holding a straw in his mouth, choked. “Cough, cough…”
Zhou Yuejun quickly used a tissue to wipe Yu Dengâs mouth; a bit of liquid had also stained his delicate, snowy neck.
Yu Deng pouted and tilted his head, seemingly trying to lean in front of that person. He looked grave and a bit annoyed, but mostly confused and aggrieved.
“Where do I look like a girl?”
Hearing the crisp, angry voice, the mother realized she had misjudged and quickly apologized: “I’m sorry! I thought he was feeling your belly because…”
Although the boy had short hair, he was exquisitely beautifulâa porcelain doll. Besides being handsome, he also possessed a bit of magnificent, refined beauty, like a tender flower bud waiting to bloom.
He had a somewhat feminine appearance.
Combined with the man’s gesture of feeling his belly, it had led to the misunderstanding.
Zhou Yuejunâs face was tense, but he was suppressing a laugh, the corners of his eyes tilted up: “It’s fine. He’s a boy. He just ate too much; he’s not pregnant.”
After catching Yu Dengâs schadenfreude, Yu Deng became even angrier. Baring his teeth, he used his knee to bump Zhou Yuejunâs leg and kicked him twice.
“You’re not allowed to talk! You’re so annoying! And don’t touch me!”
After finishing KFC, Yu Deng, wanting to stay in the cool air, tried to linger. But they were running a business, so after a short rest, he followed Zhou Yuejun to continue wandering the mall.
There was a bookstore in the mall with many more books than the small street stall downstairs.
Classics from past and present, martial arts novels, as well as translations of foreign mysteries, romances, and travelogues.
Yu Deng was dazzled. These books were well-printed without errors and had hardcover bindings, so they were naturally expensive. He chose three.
He figured that if he got bored of the TV, heâd read a book to take a break.
Zhou Yuejun hadn’t studied muchâonly up to middle school. Since Yu Deng had studied and could even go to university, he thought Yu Deng was amazing.
Naturally, if Yu Deng wanted to buy booksâeven if they were just novelsâhe thought they should be bought.
But he couldn’t buy “that” kind of bookâthe kind where people were constantly entangled together.
Just as he thought this, Zhou Yuejunâs gaze flickered for a moment. Immediately, his expression became unnatural, and his dark skin flushed red. His words carried a sense of guilt.
“You…”
“You stay here and look for a while. I’m going out for a bit. Don’t run around.”
They didn’t want to go back just yet; Yu Deng still wanted to look at other things here.
Sitting cross-legged in a corner, he gave a dismissive “mhm mhm” without even raising his head.
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